Apparatus for transferring lamps



July 31, 1962 c. R. MECKSTROTH APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LAMPS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1960 Inwervtov: Cavl, R. Mecl sln-o=thJuly 31, 1962 c. R. MECKSTROTH APPARATUS FOR'TRANSFERRING LAMPS 5Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvan tow. Cavl, 1Q. Mecks tvcrth b5 3 pk MUM isttro1-ne3 Filed April 1, 1960 July 31, 1962 c. R. MECKSTROTH APPARATUSFOR TRANSFERRING LAMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1, 1960 3,047,164APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING LAMPS Carl R. Meckstroth, South Euclid, Ohio,assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York FiledApr. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 19,226 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This inventionrelates to apparatus having utility in the manufacture of electric lampsof the type having elongated tubular envelopes with a lamp mount sealedin each end thereof, and more particularly to apparatus forsimultaneously transferring and inverting lamp envelopes of differentlengths between two lamp mount sealing machines.

In manufacturing tubular lamps of the type having elongated envelopeswith a mount sealed into each end thereof, for. example, fluorescentlamps, the mount sealing operations are frequently performed by firstsealing one mount to one end of the lamp envelope on a sealing machinethen removing the lamp envelope from the machine, transferring andinverting the lamp and placing it on a second sealing machine where thesecond lamp mount is sealed in the other end thereof. Heretofore, suchtransferring and inverting operations have been performed eithermanually or by apparatus that was only capable of handling relativelyshort envelopes of uniform length. However, in view of the demand forlong lamps and for lamps of different lengths, it has been necessary todevelop lamp manufacturing machinery capable of performing itsrespective operations on very long lamps and also on lamps havingdifferent lengths.

Normally, in the manufacture of lamps of the elongated envelope typehaving mounts sealed into each end thereof, two separate lamp sealingmachines are mounted on a common frame a predetermined distance apartand a transfer device is provided between these two machines to remove alamp envelope from one of the machines and transfer it to the other ofthe machines while simultaneously inverting it. Several problems havearisen in attempting to adapt such transfer apparatus to the manufactureof either very long lamp envelopes or lamp envelopes of variousdifferent lengths. In particular, when long lamp envelopes are beinghandled by such transferring and inverting apparatus as has heretoforebeen known, extreme care must be taken to insure that the envelope isnot inverted so fast that the resultant acceleration and decelerationcause it to shatter. Furthermore, although sealing machines have beendeveloped that are adjustable to manufacture lamp envelopes of variousdifferent lengths, it has heretofore been necessary to design and builda special transfer device for each different length of lamp envelopeproduced on such machines. A solution to the above-mentioned problems isprovided by the instant invention.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide improved apparatusfor transferring an elongated lamp envelope from a first indexing typesealing machine to a second indexing type sealing machine whileinverting the envelope about its transverse axis.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus that is readilyadjustable to transfer elongated lamp envelopes of different lengthsfrom a first lamp making machine to a second machine while inverting thelamp envelopes about their transverse axes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide means forcontrolling the movement of a lamp envelope transfer and invertingapparatus in timed relation with separate lamp sealing machines so thatthe interval of time utilized by the transfer and inverting apparatuswill correspond in general to the time interval of the indexing movementof the two lamp sealing machines.

United States Patent Briefly stated, one preferred embodiment of theinven tion utilizes a swinging pick-up arm to remove the lamp from thefirst sealing machine, a swinging delivery arm to insert the lamp in thesecond" sealing machine, and a shifter mechanism to transport the lampfrom the pickup arm to the delivery arm. The lamp sealing machines areoperated in synchronism together with the pick-up arm, delivery arm andshifter mechanism through a common drive means. First, the swingingpick-up arm removes a vertically disposed lamp from the first sealingmachine and places it in a substantially horizontal position on theshifter mechanism. The shifter mechanism transports the lamphorizontally a predetermined distance between the two sealing machines.Then the delivery arm removes the lamp from the shifter mechanism and,upon completing inversion of the lamp, inserts it in vertical positionin the second sealing machine. Adjustment. of the distance traveled bythe shifter mechanism makes it possible for the apparatus to handlelamps of varying lengths. The apparatus is especially adapted forhandling the extremely long eight foot fluorescent lamps currently onthe market without subjecting the envelopes to stresses such as wouldshatter or damage the lamps.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the description that follows when taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a pair of indexing type lampsealing machines having a lamp envelope transfer and inverting apparatusconstructed in accordance with the invention disposed therebetween;

FIG. 2 is-a fragmentary front elevation of the pickup and delivery armstogether with the shifter mechanism constructed in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of the common drive means forcoordinating the operation of the lamp transfer and inverting apparatuswith the indexing movement of the two lamp sealing machines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the delivery arm forminga part of the transfer and inverting apparatus of the invention takenalong the plane 44 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view in section of the shifter mechanism and itsassociated drive taken along plane -5-5 in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, the drawings illustrate one embodiment of thetransfer and inverting apparatus in combination with a pair of lampmount sealing machines. The lamp sealing machines 1 and 1' may be of anysuitable indexing type, for example, the general type described andclaimed in US. Patent No. 2,434,664Mal- 10y, dated January 20, 1948,employing gas fires to fuse and seal the glass stem and mount assembliesto the ends of the glass lamp envelopes 2. The sealing machines 1, 1'each comprise respective horizontal turrets or carriers 3, 3' providedwith a plurality of heads or lamp envelope holders 4', 4- located atuniformly spaced intervals around the peripheral region of therespective turrets 3, 3'. The turrets 3, 3' are supported on verticalshafts 5, 5, respectively, journaled in a common machine base or frame 6and they are intermittently rotated in a counterclockwise direction (asseen in FIG. 1) in timed relation to each other to successively index oradvance the respective heads 4, 4 to a plurality of work stationslocated at uniformly spaced intervals around the periphery of theturrets 3, 3'. The indexing means for the turrets 3, 3 may be of anysuitable type, for instance, a.

. type such as that illustrated in US. Patent No. 1,742,453

Stiles, et al. The indexing means shown in FIG. 1 generally comprisesrotating drum-type cams 7, 7 for the respective turrets 3, 3'; mountedon a common drive or cam shaft 8 and engaging a plurality of rollers 9,9, re-

Patented July 31, 1962 Q9 spectively, depending from discs 10, 10'fastened to the respective turret support shafts 5, 5.

The heads 4, 4' on the respective turrets 3, 3' each comprise avertically extending spindle 11, 11' (FIG. 2) journaled in therespective turrets 3, 3' and arranged to support on their upper ends aplurality of conventional type lamp mounts, one of which is shown asmount 12 (FIG. 2), in proper sealing position relative to the lower endof a tubular lamp envelope 2 held in a vertical position in a holder 13or 13. The holders 13, 13 may be of the general type disclosed in U.S.Patent No. 2,512,- 277-Iacobsen, and need not be discussed in detailhere.

Although a complete understanding of the detailed operation of lampsealing machines '1, 1' is not necessary to a full understanding of theinvention, a general understanding of the mode of operation of thesemachines will enable one to understand and appreciate the significantfeatures of the present invention. In the operation of each sealingmachine 1, 1 lamp mounts 12 are placed on the spindles 11, 11' of therespective heads 4, 4 at the mount loading stations, and lamp envelopes2 are placed for the sealing operation in the holders 13, 13' of theheads 4, 4- at the envelope loading stations. Following the positioningof the envelopes 2 over the mounts 12, the turrets 3, 3' are indexedsuccessively through the plurality of work stations around theperipheries of turrets 3, 3' where the glass envelopes 2 and the glassflare of the mounts 12 are heated by gas fires from burners (not shown)located thereat to effect the fusion and sealing together of theseparts. The envelopes 2 are then moved by the indexing turrets 3, 3 toenvelope unloading stations where the sealed envelope and mount areremoved from the respective heads 4, 4. It will be understood that onlyone end of the envelopes 2 is sealed in the first sealing machine 1 andthen the envelopes are transferred and inverted, in accordance with theinvention, to the sealing machine 1' wherein the other end of theenvelope 2 is sealed to its respective mount.

In accordance with the present invention, the transfer and inversion ofthe lamp envelopes 2 from the first sealing machine 1 to the secondsealing machine 1' is performed automatically by a transfer andinverting mechanism operating in timed relation to the indexingmovements and dwell intervals of the two sealing turrets 3, 3'. Toperform such a transfer operation, any conventional lifting means, suchas levers 13!: (FIG. 1) are provided for first vertically lifting anenvelope 2 on the first turret 3 off of the upper end of its respectivespindle 11, at one of the indexing stations preceding the envelopeunloading station. Such a lifting operation is required in order towithdraw the customary exhaust tube 1. (FIG. 2) from the lower end ofthe lamp mount 12 away from the passageway provided therefor in thespindle 11, so as to clear the upper end of the spindle and permitlateral transfer movement of the envelope 2 from the head 4 withoutbreakage of the exhaust tube. The particular lifting means utilized maybe similar to that shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,844,917-Caldwell, datedJuly 29, 1958. Upon completion of such vertical movement of the envelope2 by the levers 13a, the envelope is supported in this raised positionby the holder 13 at a sufficient elevation about the spindle 11 so thatthe envelope 2 may be moved laterally without interference of theexhaust tube with its associated spindle 11. 1

After the envelopes 2 have been moved by the indexing motion of turret 3to the envelope unloading station thereof, they are picked up by thetransfer and inverting apparatus and transferred to a correspondingloading station on the turret 3 while being inverted around theirtransverse axes. In accordance with the invention, the transferapparatus for accomplishing this transferring and inverting operationcomprises a first horizontally extending pick-up arm 14 associated withturret 3, a second horizontally extending delivery arm 15 associatedwith turret 3', and a horizontally reciprocable shifter mechanism 16located between the two turrets 3 and 3'. The pick-up and delivery arms'14 and 15 are similar to the transfer arms described in the aboveidentified Caldwell Patent 2,844,917 and, therefore, will be describedonly in general terms. However, the mode of operation of the arms 14 and15 should be understood with particular reference to FIGURE 4.

Representative of both arm constructions, the delivery arm 15 isprovided with a hollow shaft 15 rotatably supported on a housing 17which, in turn, is mounted on the upper end of a vertically extendinghollow support shaft 18. The shaft 18 is rotatably supported on an upstanding support column or standard 19 (FIG. 1) which is fastened at itslower end on a stationary table portion of the machine frame or base 6(FIG. 1). An elongated lamp envelope holder comprising the pivotallymounted spaced sets of jaws 20 and their associated gears 21 arepivotally mounted on the free end of the rotatable hollow shaft 15'.These jaws 20 are opened and closed around a lamp envelope by themovement of a rack 22 which slides in the hollow shaft 15 and mesheswith one of the gears 21. Movement of rack 22 is controlled byregulating the flow of oil or other suitable fluid to a cylinder 23having a piston fastened to rack 22 all in a manner similar to that morefully described in the above designated Caldwell Patent 2,844,917. Theinterconnection of cylinder 23 with the remainder of the control systemis explained in greater detail below. It should be understood that thepick-up arm 14 is also provided with an elongated envelope holdercomprising spaced sets of jaws 24 and an actuating cylinder 25corresponding to the like elements on delivery arm 15. These two armsoperate in substantially the same manner.

In accordance with a principal aspect of the invention, a horizontallyreciprocable shifter mechanism 16 (FIGS. 2 and 5) is provided totransfer elongated lamp envelopes 2 from pick-up arm 14 to delivery arm15. It includes a rack 26 mounted for reciprocable movement in spacedslideways 27 and on which are mounted spaced receptacles 28 shaped toreceive the tubular lamp envelope 2. Pipes 29 connect each receptacle toa vacuum source (not shown) so that envelope 2 will be retained inposition on the receptacles 28 by the force of the vacuum. Referring toFIG. 5, it will be seen that the receptacles 28 extend upwardly from thesurface of rack 26 and are then offset laterally so that the lampenvelope is supported to one side of the rack 26. This providesclearance between the rack 26 and the jaws on the pick-up and deliveryarms 14, 15 when the arms are pivoted into working vicinity of theshifter mechanism.

Movement of rack 26 and receptacles 28 between a first intermediate lamppickup position and a secondary intermediate lamp envelope deliveringposition is obtained by a drive gear 30. The drive gear 30 is mounted inany suitable manner on the frame 6, for example, by means of an axle 31journaled in an intermediate supporting frame 32 (FIGS. 2 and 5). Inaddition to having drive gear 30 keyed thereto, the shaft 31 has asecond gear 33 keyed to it, and gear 33 is engaged by a slidably mountedrack 34 which, in turn, is coupled through shaft 35 to a pivotallymounted cam follower lever 36 (FIG. 3).

,Idler rollers 37 (FIGS. 1 and 2) mounted on rods 38 carried by stand 32guide and support the outer ends of the rack 26.

In order to transfer elongated envelopes 2 in rapid sequence from anunloading station on turret 3 to a loading station on turret 3' by meansof the pivotally mounted arms 14 and 15 and the horizontally reciprocalshifter mechanism 16, it is necessary to coordinate accurately themovement of each of these members with the indexing movements of thelamp sealing machines 1 and 2. Furthermore, since it is an importantfeature of my invention to provide transfer and inverting apparatus thatwill handle elongated envelopes of various different lengths, it will beseen that adjustable control means must be provided to maintain theindexing movement of lamp machine 1 in synchronism with the indexingmovement of machine '1'. Since the interval of time occupied by themovement of the shifter mechanism 16 from a first intermediate envelopepickup position to a second intermediate envelop'e delivery position isnot varied for each different length of lamp envelope transferred, suchadjustable control means are necessary to adjust the distance rack 26travels while insuring that the lamp envelopes 2 will continue to betransferred from a given indexing station on the turret 3 to acorresponding indexing station on the turret 3'. To perform thesecoordinated control functions the apparatus includes a control cam andlever system (FIG. 3) comprising the drive shaft 8, which, as describedabove, controls the indexing movement of turrets 3 and 3', together witha plurality of cams mounted thereon to control the operation ofpivotally mounted arms 14 and 15 and their associated envelope holdingjaws 24 and 20. Shaft 8 is drivingly coupled through gears 39, 40 and 41to a second shaft 42 having cams mounted thereon which control theoperation of the reciprocably mounted shifter mechanism 16 and itsassociated envelope receptacles 28. The gears 39 and 41 may be keyed inany suitable manner to the respective shafts 8 and 42, and the idlergear 40 is journaled to the frame 6 (FIG. 1). Rather than fullydescribing the functioning of the control system for both arms 14 and15, only the functioning of the control system for delivery arm 15 willbe described in detail, since pick-up arm 14 is controlled by similarcomponents and its mode of operation will be very apparent once the modeof operation of the control means for arm 15 is understood.

To coordinate the movements of rack 26.with those of arms 14 and 15 andthe lamp sealing machines 1 and I 1', drive shaft 8 makes one fullrevolution of 360 between the time that the lamp sealing machines 1 and1 move to rotate the envelopes 2 from a given indexing station to thenext adjacent indexing station. This rotation of shaft 8 rotates a cam43 which effects the operation of envelope holder jaws 20 by causing apivotally mounted lever arm 44 to move vertically to cause a shaft 45and its associated rack gear 46 (FIG. 4) to rotate gear 47 and thehollow shaft 15 to which it is keyed. A camming groove 50 in cam 43 isformed so that it raises a cam following roller 51 on lever 44sufiiciently with respect to the fixed fulcrum 52 thereof so that shaft45 and rack 46 are moved far enough to cause the gear '47 and itsassociated shaft 15 to be rotated substantially 90 during the timeinterval that the horizontal delivery arm 15 is being moved from thesecond intermediate lamp delivery position of the shifter mechanism tothe envelope delivery station at the turret 3'. The cam groove 50 isalso so formed as to move the cam following roller 51 verticallydownward with respect to the fixed fulcrum of its support lever 44, thusreversing the direction of rotation of the shaft 15 and again rotatingit through substantially 90 to return it to its original position.

In order to move the horizontal delivery arm 15 in its oscillatory pathbetween the second intermediate lamp delivery station of the shiftermechanism 16 and the indexing station on turret 3' (while the jaws 20are being rotated in the manner just described to pivot the lampenvelope from horizontal to vertical position) a cam 53 is provided witha cam groove 54 to move its associated cam follower 55 and, thus, apivotally mounted lever 56, toward and away from shaft 8. Such movementof lever 56 moves a shaft 57 to cause rack gear 58 to which it isconnected to rotate gear 59 which is keyed to hollow shaft 18 (also seenin FIG. 4) thereby rotating delivery arm 15. The operation of theelements effecting the movement of delivery arm 15 may be more fullyunderstood by observing that pivotally mounted lever 56 is fulcrumed bypivot pin 60 to frame 6, and cam groove 54 is formed to move the lever56 toward the shaft 8 when the delivery arm 15 is in the envelopereceiving position (as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1) to, thus, causethe arm 15 to be rotated in a horizontal plane to an envelope deliveringposition adjacent turret 1', when the shaft 8 is rotated through Then,during the subsequent rotation of shaft 8 through another 180, the camgroove 54 moves the lever 56 away from the shaft 8 and returns therebythe arm 15 to its envelope receiving position. I

As seen from the discussion of the control system operation thus far,the cams 43 and 53 coordinate the horizontal movement of delivery arm 15and rotational movement of envelope holding jaws 20. In order to alsocoordinate the opening and closing of the jaws 29 with the rotationalmovement thereof and with the horizontal movement of arm 15, a cam 61 onshaft 8 operates a valve 62 which, in turn, regulates the flow of oil,or other suitable fluid, through pipes 63 to cylinder 23 (FIGS. 1 and 4)to close the jaws 20 on an envelope 2 when the arm 15 is in the dottedline or envelope receiving position shown in FIG. 1, and then to openthe jaws 20 when the arm 15 has been moved to the envelope deliveringposition adjacent turret 1', shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. Asmentioned above, the operations of the valve 62 and the control cylinder23 in performing the functions indicated are similar to those describedin the control system discussed in US. Patent No. 2,844,9l7 Caldwell.

A cam 64 on shaft 8 and its associated lever 65 are provided to controlthe timed opening and closing of envelope holder 13 on turret 1, in amanner similar to that fully described in the above-mentioned CaldwellPatent 2,844,917. Sufiice it to say that lever 65 is moved by cam 64- tocause holder 13 to retain envelopes 2 in a raised position above spindle11 until jaws 24 on pick-up arm 14 close on the envelope 2; then the cam64 acts to cause holder 13 to free the envelope 2.

(Jams 66 and 67 on shaft 8 control the horizontally pivoted pick-up arm14 through their associated lever systems in a manner similar to that inwhich the cams 43 and 53, respectively, control the movement of arm 15.Cam 6% controls the admission of oil, or other suitable -fiuid, to thecylinder 25 on arm 14 in a manner similar to that in which the cam 61controls the admission of oil to the cylinder 23 on arm 15; therefore,the interrelation -between earns 66, 67 and 68 and their associatedcontrol elements will not be discussed in detail. Cam 69 and itsassociated control lever 69a serve to lift the envelopes 2 verticallywith respect to turret 1 by effecting the movement of envelope, lifter13a prior to the time when pick-up arm 14 and its associated jaws 24 aremoved into contact therewith; however, since this control operation isdiscussed in detail in the above-mentioned Caldwell Patent 2,844,917 itwill not be further outlined here.

In order to coordinate accurately the operation of the shifter mechanism16, with the movements of pickup arm 14 and delivery arm 15, shaft 42 iscoupled through gears 39, 4t} and 41 to drive 'shaft8 in such a mannerthat shaft 42 is rotated through 360 each time that shaft 8 isrotatedthrough 360. A cam 76 is rigidly afiixed to shaft 42 and isprovided with a cam groove 71 that moves a cam following roller 72 andthe lever 56 vertically with respect to a fixed lever fulcrum 73 andeffects thereby a vertical movement of shaft 35 to rotate the drive gear30 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5) in the manner described above. Morespecifically, ca'm groove 71 is formed to move the rack 26 from a firstintermediate lamp receiving position, shown in solid lines in the FIGS.1 and 2, to a second intermediate lamp delivery position, shown-by adotted line in FIGS. 1 and 2. The

lever 36 is then moved vertically downward by cam To insure theretention of envelopes 2 in proper spaced relation on the spacedreceptacles 28 carried by rack 26, the receptacles are coupled throughpipe 29 to any suitable means (not shown) for drawing a vacuum on thepipe 29, and a valve 74 is provided to connect the pipe 29 to thisvacuum source. Cam 75 on shaft 42 serves to operate the valve 74 so thatthe valve 74 is opened to connect the receptacles 28 through pipe 29 tothe vacuum source when an envelope 2 is positioned thereon by theabove-mentioned operation of horizontally pivotal pick-up arm 14, thusapplying a vacuum force to the surface of the envelope 2 that retains itin position on the receptacles. The cam 75 is so shaped that it holdsthe valve 74 open during the interval of time required for rack 26 tomove from its first intermediate lamp envelope receiving position to itssecond intermediate envelope delivering position and then moves thevalve 74 to a closed position and, thus, releases the envelope 2 so thatit may be removed from receptacles 28 by the operation of horizontallypivoted delivery arm 15, as described above.

One typical cycle of operation will now be briefly described withreference to FIG. 1 in which pick-up arm 14 is shown as having justgripped a lamp envelope after an indexing movement of turret 3 anddelivery arm 15 has just placed an envelope on turret 3' after suchindexing movement. For clarity, the shifter mechanism 16 is shown in theposition in which it will receive a lamp envelope from arm 14 althoughin actual practice the shift mechanism may just be approaching thisposition. As previously indicated, one revolution of the turret driveshaft 8 causes a corresponding 360 revolution of drive shaft 42 andthereby a complete cycle of operation of the transfer and invertingapparatus. A single revolution of drive shaft 8 indexes the turrets fromone position to the next and corresponds to a time interval made up of adwell period for work on the lamp and the period of movement of theturrets from one indexed position to another. During such indexingmovement the arms 14 and 15 must be spaced from the turrets so that theywill not strike lamps mounted on the turrets.

Immediately after turret 3 has moved to an indexed position, and at thestart of the dwell period for working on the lamps, the pick-up arm' 14grips the vertically disposed lamp envelope 2, removes it from theturret 3, and While swinging to the first intermediate lamp position(shown in dotted line in FIG. 1) turns the lamp 90 to a horizontalposition and deposits it on the vacuum receptacles 28 of the shiftermechanism 16. The gripping jaws 24 on arm 14 release the lamp and theshifter mechanism 16 then rapidly moves the lamp in a horizontalposition along its axis to the second intermediate lamp position (shownby dotted line in FIG. 1). By this time the delivery arm 15 will havereleased its lamp on turret 3 and been pivoted to the dotted lineposition shown in FIG. 1 where the jaws 20 are shown open in readinessto grip the lamp envelope resting on the shifter mechanism. Upongripping the lamp, delivery arm 15 is pivoted toward turret 3' and thelamp is rotated 90 through the remainder of the inversion cycle as thedelivery arm 15 swings the lamp to vertical position adjacent turret 3.Just prior to the time that delivery arm 15 reaches the periphery ofturret 3 the turret is indexed to present a vacant lamp holder forreception of the now transferred lamp. In the meantime, the shiftermechanism 16 has been returned to the general vicinity of its originalposition for reception of another lamp about to be removed from turret 3by the pick-up arm 14. It will be manifest that the cams on the driveshafts 8 and 42 can have different rotative positions and differentsizes in order to provide different movements for the pick-up arm 14,shifter mechanism 16, and delivery arm 15 in instances when the sealingmachine turrets are spaced differently and indexed out of synchronism.The complete indexing time interval may be split up in various ways toapportion the available time to the different movements of arms 14- and15 and the shifter mechamsm.

From the foregoing description of the transfer and 5 inverting apparatusand its associated control means, it

will be apparent that when lamp manufacturing machines 1 and 1' areadjusted to seal mounts in lamp envelopes 2 of various differentlengths, it will be necessary to vary correspondingly the distance thatthe reciprocable shifter mechanism 16 moves. Such a correspondingvariation is essential in order to prevent the rack 26 from moving theenvelopes 2 to such a position that the delivery arm and its associatedjaws do not grasp the envelope 2 at an incorrect position for 15mounting on the turret 1. To effect this adjustable control of thepositioning rack 26 at its second intermediate or lamp delivery positionfor proper delivery of envelopes 2 of various different lengths, anysuitable adjustment of the rack drive means may be provided. For

20 example, the cam 70 may be replaced with a second cam having adifferent pattern for groove 71 to thus regulate the distance that lever36 and thus reciprocable rack 26 is moved. The distance traveled by rack26 may also be adjusted by other means, for example, by simply changingthe position of fulcrum 73 on lever 36 relative to the control cam 70thereby to vary the distance which lever 36 and, thus, rack 26 is movedas cam 70 rotates.

The entire envelope transferring cycle occurs within the interval oftime required to move the turrets 3 and 3 30 from one indexing stationto the next successive indexing station as use of the shifter mechanism16 in no way impairs the operating speeds of the sealing machines 1 andi. This desirably uniform transfer time, which is maintainedindependently of variations in the lengths of envelopes 2 beingtransferred, is achieved by directly coupling the drive means forshifter mechanism 16 to the drive means for the indexing machines 1, 1'.Thus, regardless of how far the rack 26 is adjusted to travel, it ismoved through this distance by the directly coupled 4() drive means at arate such that it completes one of its envelope delivering cycles duringeach movement of turrets 3 and 3' to successive indexing stations. Inother words, the rate of movement of rack 26 varies in accordance withvariations in the lengths of envelopes being transferred, but the timerequired by the rack 26 to complete an envelope deliverying cycleremains substantially the same.

When the transfer apparatus is used with lamp sealing machines of theindexing type, these machines may be operated at optimum speedregardless of the length of lamp being manufactured thereon. Toaccomplish the transfer within the time required by one indexingmovement, the shifter mechanism 16 may be caused to move quite rapidlywithout any danger of shattering envelopes 2, because only an axialcompressive force is applied to the envelopes while they are held byvacuum receptacles 28, since the envelopes are held in a horizontalposition. Of course, the envelopes 2 can Withstand a much greater axialcompressive force without shattering than 0 they can withstand a radialforce tending to bend them about their transverse axes, such as theywould be sub- 'jected to if they were moved rapidly by arms 14 or 15.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of apparatusfor simultaneously transferring 5 and inverting elongated lamp envelopesfrom a first position to a second position, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from my invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, I intendin the following appended claims to encompass all such modifications asfall Within the true scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In combination with means to support vertically 7 extending tubularlamp envelopes at an initial pick-up position and means to support saidenvelopes vertically at a final delivery position spaced horizontallyfrom said pick-up position, an inverting transfer mechanism comprisingfirst and second horizontally extending transfer arms pivoted onrespective vertical axes spaced apart horizontally between said pick-upand delivery positions, gripping means mounted on the ends of said arms,means mounting said gripping means for rotation about the longitudinalaxes of their respective associated arms, means mounting said arms forpivotal oscillation about their respective axes in a common horizontalplane and between respective initial pick-up and final deliverypositions and respective intermediate delivery and pick-up positionswhereat the arms extend substantially normal to a line joining theirvertical axes of oscillation with their gripping means in horizontalalignment, shifter mechanism having means thereon to support a lamphorizontally in alignment 'with the gripping means on said arms when thearms are in their respective intermediate pick-up and deliverypositions, means mounting said shifter mechanism for oscillation along apath parallel to the path of alignment of said gripping means in theintermediate delivery and pick-up positions of said arms, and means foractuating said arms and shifter mechanism in a sequence of stepswherein, with the first arm at the initial pick-up position, thegripping means thereon is actuated to grasp an envelope, the said firstarm is oscillated to its intermediate delivery position and is rotated90 about its longitudinal axis during its oscillation so that theenvelope held thereby extends horizontally at the intermediate deliveryposition of the arm at which time the shifter mechanism is in positionto receive the envelope held by said arm, the gripping means on thefirst arm is actuated to release its grip on the envelope, the shiftermechanism is moved along its aforesaid path of oscillation toward theintermediate pick-up position of the second arm at which time saidsecond arm is in its said intermediate pick-up position, the grippingmeans on said second arm is actuated tograsp the envelope on saidshifter mechanism, and the second arm is oscillated to the finaldelivery position and is simultaneously rotated 90 in the same angulardirection as the first arm to complete inversion of the envelope through180 and delivery thereof to the final delivery position.

2. Apparatus for removing an elongated tubular lamp envelope carried invertical position from a first lamp making machine and placing it ininverted vertical position on a second machine spaced horizontally fromsaid first machine comprising, in combination, supporting means, ahorizontally extending pick-up arm pivoted on a vertical axis on saidsupporting means for oscillation in a horizontal plane between saidfirst machine and an intermediate delivery position and provided withgripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on the first machine, saidgripping means being mounted for rotation about the'longitudinal axis ofsaid pick-up arm, a shifter mechanism located adjacent the saidintermediate delivery position of said pick-up arm for receiving a lampenvelope and mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement on saidsupporting means, means for pivoting said pick-up arm away from thefirst machine and simultaneously rotating said gripping means 90 toplace the lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on saidshifter mechanism, means for moving said shifter mechanism to transportthe envelope in a direction axially along its length, a horizontallyextending delivery arm pivoted on a vertical axis on said supportingmeans for oscillation in the same said horizontal plane as said pick-uparm between said second machine and an intermediate pick-up positionwhich is located adjacent said shifter mechanism and spaced horizontallyfrom the intermediate delivery position of said pick-up arm, saiddelivery arm being provided with a gripping mechanism for gripping thelamp envelope on said shifter mechanism, means mounting said grippingmechanism for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said delivery arm,and means for pivoting said dolivery arm away from said shiftermechanism and simultaneously rotating said gripping mechanismand lampenvelope to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the secondmachine.

3. Apparatus for removing an elongated tubular lamp envelope carried invertical position from a first lamp making machine and placing it ininverted vertical position on a second machine spaced horizontally fromsaid first machine comprising, in combination, a supporting means, ahorizontally extending pick-up arm pivoted on a vertical axis on saidsupporting means for oscillation in a horizontal plane between saidfirst machine and an intermediate delivery position and provided withgripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on the firstmachine, saidgripping means being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis ofsaid pick-up arm, a shifter mechanism located adjacent the intermediatedelivery position of said pick-up arm and mounted for horizontalreciprocating movement on said supporting means, said shifter mechanismcomprising a horizontally extending rack bar having spaced receptaclesfor receiving a lamp envelope, means for pivoting said pick-up arm awayfrom said machine and simultaneously rotating said gripping means 90 toplace the lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on saidreceptacles, means including a gear engaging said rack bar for movingsaid shifter mechanism to transport the envelope in a direction axiallyalong its length, a horizontally extending delivery arm pivoted on avertical axis on said supporting means for oscillation in the same saidhorizontal plane as said pick-up arm between said second machine and anintermediate pick-up positionwhich is located adjacent said shiftermechanism and spaced horizontally from the intermediate deliveryposition of said pick-up arm, said delivery arm being provided withgripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on said receptacles, meansmounting said gripping means for rotation about the longitudinal axis ofsaid delivery arm, and means for pivoting said delivery arm away fromthe shifter mechanism and simultaneously rotating said gripping meansand lamp envelope 90 to place the lamp in inverted vertical position onthe second machine.

4. Apparatus for removing an elongated tubular lamp envelope carried invertical positionfrom a first lamp making machine and placing it ininverted vertical position on a second machine spaced horizontally fromsaid first machine comprising, in combination, supporting means, ahorizontally extending pick-up arm pivoted on a vertical axis on saidsupporting means for oscillation in a horizontal plane between saidfirst machine and an int rmediate delivery position and provided withgripping means for gripping the lamp envelope on the first machine, saidgripping means being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis ofsaid pick-up arm, a shifter mechanism located adjacent the intermediatedelivery position of said pick-up arm and mounted for horizontalreciprocating movement on said supporting means, said shifter mechanismcomprising a horizontally extending rack bar having spaced receptaclesfor receiving a lamp envelope, means for pivoting said pick-up arm awayfrom said machine and simultaneously rotating said gripping means 90 toplace the lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on saidreceptacles, means including a gear drive engaging said rack for movingsaid shifter mechanism to transport the envelope in a direction axiallyalong its length, means for applying vacuum to the said receptacles toretain the envelope on said receptacles during movement of said shiftermechanism, a horizontally extendingdelivery arm pivoted on a verticalaxis on said supporting means for oscillation in the same saidhoripick-up arm, said delivery arm being provided with gripping meansfor gripping the lamp envelope on said receptacles, means mounting saidgripping means for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said deliveryarm, and means for pivoting said delivery arm away from the shiftermechanism and simultaneously rotating said gripping means and lampenvelope 90 to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on thesecond machine.

5. In combination with a pair of horizontally spaced lamp makingmachines each having a carrier provided with a plurality of heads aroundthe periphery thereof for supporting elongated lamp envelopes invertical position, synchronous drive means for said machines forindexing said carriers in timed relation to present the heads andsupported envelopes to successive indexed Work stations, a swinginghorizontally extending pick-up arm provide with gripping means forgripping a lamp envelope on one of said carriers at an indexed station,means mounting said pick-up arm for swinging in a horizontal plane andfor rotation of its gripping means about u the longitudinal axis of thearm, a horizontally reciprocating shifter mechanism for receiving a lampenvelope, means actuated by said drive means for swinging said pick-uparm away from said one carrier part of the distance toward the othercarrier and simultaneously rotating said gripping means to place thegripped lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on saidshifter mechanism, means actuated by said drive means to move saidshifter mechanism horizontally another part of the distance toward saidsecond carrier to transport the lamp in its horizontal position, aswinging horizontally extending delivery arm provided with a grippingmeans for gripping the lamp envelope on said shifter mechanism, meansmounting said delivery arm for swinging in the same said horizontalplane as said pick-up arm and for rotation of its gripping means aboutthe longitudinal axis of the delivery arm, and means actuated by saiddrive means for swinging said delivery arm away from said shiftermechanism and continuing rotation of the lamp envelope to place the lampin inverted vertical position on the other of said carriers at acorresponding work sta tion.

6. In combination with a pair of horizontally spaced lamp makingmachines each having a carrier provided with a plurality of heads aroundthe periphery thereof for supporting elongated lamp envelopes invertical position, synchronous drive means for said machines forindexing said carriers in timed relationship to each other to presentthe heads and supported envelopes to successive indexed work stations, aswinging horizontally extending pick-up arm provided with gripping meansfor gripping a lamp envelope on one of said carriers at an indexedstation, means mounting said pick-up arm for swinging in a horizontalplane and for rotation of its gripping means about the longitudinal axisof the arm, a horizontally reciprocating shifter mechanism including arack bar having horizon-tally spaced receptacles for receiving a lampenvelope, means actuated by said drive means for swinging said pick-uparm away from said one carrier part of the distance toward the othercarrier and simultaneously rotating said rotatable means to place thegripped lamp envelope in substantially horizontal position on saidreceptacles, means including a gear drive engaging said rack andactuated by said drive means to move said shifter mechanism horizontallyanother part of the distance toward said other carrier to transport thelamp in its horizontal position, a swinging horizontally extendingdelivery arm provided with a gripping mechanism for gripping the lampenvelope on said receptacles, means mounting said delivery arm forswinging in the same said horizontal plane as said pick-up arm and forrotation of its gripping mechanism about the longitudinal axis of thedelivery arm, and means actuated by said drive means for swinging saiddelivery arm away from said shifter mechanism and simultaneouslyrota-ting said rotatable mechanism to continue rotation of the lampenvelope to place the lamp in inverted vertical position on the other ofsaid carriers at the corresponding work station.

7. In combination with a pair of horizontally spaced lamp makingmachines each having a carrier provided with a plurality of heads aroundthe periphery thereof for supporting elongated lamp envelopes invertical position, synchronous drive means for said machines forindexing said carriers in timed relationship with each other to presentthe heads and supported envelopes to successive indexed work stations, aswinging horizontally extending pick-up arm provided with gripping meansfor gripping a lamp envelope on one of said carriers at an indexedstation, means mounting said pick-up arm for swinging in a horizontalplane and for rotation of its gripping means about the longitudinal axisof the arm, a horizontally movable shifter mechanism including a rackbar having horizontally spaced receptacles for receiving a lampenvelope, means actuated by said drive means for swinging said pick-uparm away from said one carrier part of the distance toward the othercarrier and simultaneously rotating said gripping means to place a lampenvelope in substantially horizontal position on said receptacles, meansincluding a gear drive engaging said rack and actuated by said drivemeans to move said shifter mechanism horizontally another part of thedistance toward said other carrier to transport the lamp in itshorizontal position, means actuated by said drive means to apply vacuumto said receptacles to retain the lamp envelope thereon during movementof said shifter mechanism, a swinging horizontally extending deliveryarm provided with a gripping mechanism for gripping the lamp envelope onsaid receptacles, means mounting said delivery arm for swinging in thesame said horizontal plane as said pick-up arm and for rotation of itsgripping mechanism about the longitudinal axis of the delivery arm, andmeans actuated by said drive means for swinging said delivery arm awayfrom said shifter mechanism and simultaneously rotating said rotatablemechanism to continue rotation of the lamp envelope to place the lamp ininverted vertical position on the other of said carriers at thecorresponding work statron.

References Cited in the file of this patent

